The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-02-24

that taxpayers may settle up to the last of
February; and that recoverie5 under in
surance policies on buildings shall not be
for greater sum than such buildings are
rendered at for taxes.
House adjourned until $3.50 Thursday
morning.
THURSDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
The house was called to order by the
speaker; prayer by the chaplain.
| Mr.. Browning speaking to question of
personal privilege, said: ~ find the fol-
lowing in this mornings STATESMAN, rep
resented as a part of the testimony OF
Mr.. O. H. Nelson, given before the Willis
investigating committee, on yesterday.
MIR. Nelson is reported as using this Ian
guage: Il had talk with Hon. James N.
Browning since he came here. He said
he would take neutral ground; that there
was about forty lawyers in the house, and
that Judge Willis stood about as much
show as stump tailed bull in fly tlme.'
In justice to myself and the members
composing this house, say, sir, that l
made no such declaration to
having had several conversations with
Nelson and Goodnight about this case be-
fore the charges were preferred against
Judge Willis. Mr.. Nelson is cattle man,
havia~ large ranch in the Panhandle,
and is one of the parties indicted for lille.
gally enclosing public school lands, at the
January term of the Donley county dis;
t:ict court. Before this proceeding was
commenced against Judge Willis Mr..
Nelson came to me and insisted that [
should defend Judge Willis and do what l
could to clear him. l declined to do so
and gave as my reason that had been
concerned as counsel in several of tie
cases tried before Judge Willis, and that
it would look like 1 was trying to cover
up something if took stock in it; that l
was perfectly willing for the public to
know all about my connection with the
cases; and, therefore, l would take neither
SIDE Mr.. Nelson asked me what 1 thought
of the chances for Judge Willis to come
clear if an investigation was had. l told
him in substance that could not tell;
that most of the members of the
house were strangers 70 me; that I
did not know how they would
act on such matter; that ordinarily, men
from other portions of the state were
more or less prejudiced against the Pan
handle because of so many newspaper re-
ports of lawlessness in that region; that
if these men were like great many COM
ing from this portion of the state, and all
the facts were proven in the case, Judge
! Willis would stand about as much show to
come clear as a stump-tailed bull would
| In fly tlme l intended to convey no such
idea as Mr.. Nelson's purported
testimony would be construed
to convey. I do not believe that
there is a single member on the TO. of
this house that would decide this case
upon personal prejudice. I believe
them to be fair men.
nave all the time maintained neu-
tral ground In this case, because Judge
Willis Is my neighbor and the Judge of
my district, and because, as before stated,
of my connection with some of the cases
tried before Judge Willis, and upon which,
to large extent this investigation is
based. Strong efforts have been made to
bulldoZe and force me to take sides in this
controversy; but l have persistently
refused to do it and still intend to take
no side while the matter is being 1nyesti
gated will not be bulldozed into doing
anything that don't want to do. There
Is not member on the floor of this house
that can rise from his seat and truthfully
say that have ever approached him di-
Iectly or Indirectly upon the subject of
Judge Wills investigations; on the con-
trary, when they have spoken to me about
1t, L have invariably evaded them and
given no opinion or expression by which
they could tell how 1 stood upon the
question"
The house resumed consideration of
Mr.. Pages bill, house bill No. so, amend
ing the assessment laws.
Amendments were adopted as follows:
Adding to article 4765a, making il the
uuty or the state comptroller to sue de-
1aultlng collectors, the words: "And if, on
trial OF the cause, it shall appear that the
lax collectors without good and sufficient
cause mad failed to comply with said arti-
cles, then 1t shall be the duty of the court
30 enter an order rendering vacant the
office of said collector"
Also, striking out in article 471Ob, that
recoverles under insurance policies on
buildings shall not be for a greater sum
'han such buildings are rendered at for
taxes.
Also, striking out the entire section
lIioa, relating to assessing changing
values, such as stocks of goods, wares and
merchandise, by taking as the basis for
assessment the average amount on hand
turing the preceding year, which assess
nents shall be not less than the canital
actually employed in the business.
one requiring insurance companies IN
'xhlblt their books to assessors was
adopted. was
Mr. Groce offered amendment which
vas ruled out of order, the object of
Vhlch was to avoid double taxation of
ands and mortgage notes against the
ana, by amending article 1852 of the re-
Used statutes.
Amendment adopted yesterday, chang
ng the final time for settling taxes with
onectors to the last day of February. in
tead OF December, was reconsidered and
so that such settlements must be
ach year.
a motion to reconsider the striking out